MARINE CORPS PLANNING PROCESS

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MARINE CORPS PLANNING PROCESS
OVERVIEW
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PURPOSE

• Provide an overview of the Marine Corps Planning
  Process
• Discuss the compatibility of the MCPP with other
  planning processes
• Discuss the importance of the commander
  throughout the process
• Discuss the role of the staff

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REFERENCES
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PLANNING
Planning is an essential and significant part of
the broader field of command and control. We can
even argue that planning constitutes half of
command and control... -- MCDP 5
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PURPOSE OF PLANNING
Planning is the art of envisioning a desired end
state and determining effective ways of achieving
that goal. MCWP 5-1

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MARINE CORPS PLANNING PROCESS
Higher Commanders Directives
Execution
Mission Analysis
COA Development
Transition
Orders Development
COA War Game
COA Comparison Decision
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PROCESS COMPARISON
JOPES Crisis Action Planning
MCPP
MDMP
JTF
MISSION ANALYSIS
RECEIPT OF MISSION
SITUATION DEVELOPMENT
MISSION ANALYSIS
MISSION ANALYSIS
CRISIS ASSESSMENT
PLANNING GUIDANCE
COA DEVELOPMENT
COA DEVELOPMENT
COA DEVELOPMENT
COA WAR GAME
COA ANALYSIS
COA ANALYSIS
COA COMPARISON/ DECISION
COA COMPARISON
COA COMPARISON
COA APPROVAL
COA SELECTION
COA SELECTION
ORDERS DEVELOPMENT
ORDERS PRODUCTION
EXECUTION PLANNING
ORDERS PRODUCTION
TRANSITION
EXECUTION
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TENETS OF MCPP

• Top-Down Planning
• Single Battle Concept
• Integrated Planning

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TOP-DOWN PLANNING

• Planning is a fundamental responsibility of
  command
• Commander drives the process
• Keys
• - CBAE
• Intent
• Battlespace
• COG
• CCIRs
• - Planning guidance
• Commander gains
• - Knowledge
• - Situational awareness
• - Support for his decision making

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SINGLE BATTLE
Action anywhere is related To action everywhere
else
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INTEGRATED PLANNING
OPT

• Disciplined Approach to Planning
• Helps to -
• Reduce Omissions
• Share Information

Commander
Staff
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MISSION ANALYSIS
Mission Analysis
COA Development
Transition
Orders Development
COA War Game
COA Comparison Decision
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MISSION ANALYSIS
Purpose to review and analyze orders, guidance
and other information that is provided by higher
headquarters in order to produce a unit mission
statement. -- MCWP 5-1
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MISSION ANALYSIS
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COA DEVELOPMENT
Mission Analysis
COA Development
Transition
Orders Development
COA War Game
COA Comparison Decision
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COA DEVELOPMENT
Purpose to generate options for follow-on
wargaming and comparison that satisfy the
mission, commanders intent and guidance of the
commander. -- MCWP 5-1
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COA DEVELOPMENT
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COA WAR GAME
Mission Analysis
COA Development
Transition
Orders Development
COA War Game
COA Comparison Decision
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COA WAR GAME
Purpose assists planners in identifying
strengths and weaknesses, associated risks, and
asset shortfalls for each friendly course of
action. -- MCWP 5-1
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COA WAR GAME
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COA COMPARISON DECISION
Mission Analysis
COA Development
Transition
Orders Development
COA War Game
COA Comparison Decision
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COA COMPARISON DECISION
Purpose the commander evaluates all friendly
courses of action against established criteria,
evaluates them against each other, and selects
the course of action that he believes will best
accomplish the mission. -- MCWP 5-1
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COA COMPARISON DECISION
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ORDERS DEVELOPMENT
Mission Analysis
COA Development
Transition
Orders Development
COA War Game
COA Comparison Decision
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ORDERS DEVELOPMENT
Purpose communicates the commanders intent,
guidance and decisions in a clear, useful form
that is easily understood by those executing the
order. -- MCWP 5-1
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ORDERS DEVELOPMENT
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TRANSITION
Mission Analysis
COA Development
Transition
Orders Development
COA War Game
COA Comparison Decision
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TRANSITION
Purpose to provide a successful shift from
planning to execution. -- MCWP 5-1
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TRANSITION
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SUMMARY

• Provided an overview of the Marine Corps Planning
  Process
• Discussed the compatibility of the MCPP with
  other planning processes
• Discussed the importance of the commander
  throughout the process
• Discussed the role of the staff